AFL urged to invest in umpires as participation numbers dwindle at community level

An Australian rules football umpiring shortage is in danger of continuing because participation is «not keeping up with the growth of the game», according to a confidential AFL review obtained by ABC Sport.

And umpire abuse in only a small part of the problem.

The strategy document from November 2021 reported the major reasons umpires were leaving the game included:

Abuse, at 6 per cent, was eighth on the list.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan recently called for a crackdown on dissent.

«Frankly, I take responsibility for the fact it's got away from us,» McLachlan said.

«We are not going to tolerate the abuse of umpires.»

AFL captains agreed the change was necessary.

«I think most clubs would've received it pretty well and understands how important they are to our game,» Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli said.

St Kilda skipper Jack Steele said umpires were vital to the game.

«The umpires are just as important as players, so we've got to respect that,» he said.

Community umpires are grateful for the shift in attitude, while understanding there are bigger problems looming for the sport.

Under the headline «The shortage of umpires is now at crisis point», the AFL's review found COVID-19 devastated umpire recruitment.

«COVID has negatively impacted umpiring two-fold,» the review report read.

«2020 saw the highest number of non-returning umpires on record [and] the lowest intake of new umpires in six years.

»This has resulted in an increased shortfall of umpires and has stretched current umpiring resources to the limit leading to a higher risk of current umpires not returning."

Increased workload remains another threat.

One in five umpires routinely carry the whistle more than one match per weekend. One in 10 oversee two or more